Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the creation of TANF, a part of the welfare reform program of President Clinton. The paper explains the purpose of TANF, how it was designed to operate, and the problems that arose as a result of its focus on cost-effectiveness. The paper also looks at the general public's perceptions of TANF, how the social worker must operate within the TANF framework, and outside interests influencing the operation of TANF.

From the Paper:

"Federal programs often operate according to a theoretical standard that tends to account for the reality of future situations in various degrees of viability concerning operation on state and even local levels. Programs begin and end rather arbitrarily in terms of time-lines and may appear exceedingly distant from the public they are intent on serving. On the other hand, without federal initiatives, development in terms of a common vision shared by these programs is lacking. It is a difficult balance between federalism and standardization that often results in the federal program going through a continuous process of being retooled as various powers come and go in terms of drafting, approving, and amending legislation. Welfare reform is not held separate from this process. With the instigation of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, initiatives in the mid nineties, welfare reform was set in terms of cost effectiveness. Since, the economy has undergone a downturn that has resulted in the termination of many workers who started working with the program, which highlights welfare-to-work incentives, and are not able to collect from TANF due to preset time constraints within the system."

More papers on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families:

• Essay # 68286 : "Temporary Aid for Needy Families"
• Essay # 25889 : "Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program (TANF)"
• Essay # 15339 : "Temporary Assistance to Needy Families"

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